Capital Area Birding Locations

Clinton County

Rose Lake Wildlife AreaRose Lake is a state wildlife research area of 3,646 acres of moderately rolling farmland, abandoned fields, oak and lowland woods, and marsh. The extensive wooded area east of the Peacock Road parking area, through which runs Vermilion Creek, is perhaps the best area location for a wide variety of warblers including the less-common Golden-winged, Cerulean, and Hooded. Good for wildflowers too. Hunting is allowed in season.

Vermillion Creek

Liatris Spicata

Sleepy Hollow State Park

The only State Park in mid-Michigan, Sleepy Hollow contains some 2,600 acres. Sixteen miles of trails wind through grasslands, mixed shrub habitat, and deciduous woods. 410 acre Lake Ovid is excellent for migrating ducks and other waterfowl. Nesting birds include Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Meadowlark, Acadian Flycatcher, and Broad-winged Hawk.

Lake Ovid

Eaton County

Lincoln Brick Park

Lincoln Brick Park is located on the Grand River north and west of the city of Grand Ledge. The Park gets its name from a brick factory that was located on this site. Ruins and remnants of the factory are visible among the secondary growth of poplar and aspen and large cottonwood trees. The park has more than 1 mile of frontage on the Grand River, which at this point flows mostly north. A building housing a nature center and meeting room is located on the road entering the park. To the north and west of the center there is a 9 acre prairie and adjacent to it on the south is the start of a small sugar maple plantation. North of the prairie the Park extends through mixed secondary habitat to a creek which is the Park boundary and which meanders down to the Grand River.

150 Species have been recorded at the Park including Golden Eagle and Long Eared Owl. 47 species are known to have nested in the Park. Pileated Woodpeckers have nested there every year since 2004.

Woods overlooking the Grand River at Lincoln Brick(Photo and description by John Baumgartner)

Woldumar Nature Center

Woldumar is located at 5739 Old Lansing Road, just northeast of the Lansing Road exit from I-96. Six miles of trails are provided across the 150 acre site. The varied habitat of beech-maple woods, prairie, and the 1.25 mile frontage on the Grand River make it a popular location on the southwest side to observe spring and fall migrating song birds.

Rotary Barn at Woldumar Nature Center

Gratiot County

Maple River State Game Area

The most productive location in mid-Michigan for water birds. CAAS has held a field trip here for many years at the end of March when Tundra Swans are often seen in migration. Raptors such as Bald Eagle, Osprey, Harrier, and Rough-legged Hawk are commonly seen. When water levels are right, shorebirds can be abundant. Other less-common birds such as Northern Shrike, Rusty Blackbird, and Short-eared Owl can often be found. Spring and Fall are best but it is a game area so hunting seasons must be observed.

Scoping from the dike

Bur Oak near Baldwin Road

Ingham County

Dansville State Game Area

The only state-owned public land in Ingham County is this quiet and secluded game area south of Dansville. Small parking areas can be found along the three main roads through the 5,000 acre property: Ewers, Williamston, and Potter. From these, footpaths lead into the unmarked interior. Better access is on trails that lead from the end of Seven Gables Road off of Dexter Trail and a two-track that leads to Hughes Lake from a marked parking lot, also on Dexter Trail.

Fenner Nature Center

Four miles of trails lead through equally large wooded and open areas which along with three ponds on the 134-acre site attract a wide variety of bird species and in turn a large number of birders. CAAS bird walks are regularly held here in spring and fall. Fenner is a City-of-Lansing Park operated by the Fenner Conservancy. Just north of Fenner a bridge carries Aurelius Road traffic over the Red Cedar River. Below the bridge is the River Trail, a pedestrian/bicycle pathway connecting the MSU campus with downtown Lansing. Tall trees line the river banks along this stretch of the trail east and west of Aurelius Road and are a good location to look for migrating warblers and vireos. In winter, ducks of many species are often found on the unfrozen waters in the vicinity of the adjacent Potter Park Zoo.

Lake Lansing North Park

This is a large Ingham County park in Haslett of 410 acres with a nice variety of habitats. More than five miles of well-maintained trails and boardwalks meander through oak/hickory woods, mixed woods, marshes, and other wetlands where sedge wrens, soras, and Virginia Rails are often found in the spring.

Spring in North Park

North Park Boardwalk

Lake Lansing South Park

The 30-acre South Park on the west shore of Lake Lansing is probably the best location to observe waterfowl on the lake. The only other public land on the lake is the boat launch at the north end. Lake Lansing, at 485 acres is the largest body of water in the tri-county area. Bruce Cohen has birded the lake for many years and has seen 9 species of gulls including over 85 Franklin’s Gulls in 1998. Other sightings by Bruce include all three scoters, red-throated loon, red-necked grebe, long-tailed duck, and American avocet. October until freeze-over is the best time of year to search for these rarities and later in the day with the sun behind puts the birds in the best light.

Lake Lansing

Meridian Riverfront Natural Area and Harris Nature Center

Situated along the south bank of the Red Cedar River, Eastgate Park, Harris Nature Center, and Legg Park together comprise 200 acres of beech maple woods, upland fields, and floodplain forest. Six miles of trails wind through this linear preserve located on either side of Van Atta Road. A good location for spring and fall neo-tropical migrants.

Skunk Cabbage in Eastgate floodplain

Red Cedar River at Harris Nature Center

Legg Park

Riverbend Natural Area

Riverbend Natural Area in Delhi Township is connected by trail to Burchfield Park or accessed directly off of Nichols Road. Four miles of color-coded loop trails edge the Grand River and also penetrate into woods and shrubby field habitat where Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, and Eastern Bluebird nest.

Scott Woods Park

Scott Woods is a City of Lansing Park located at the south end of Clifton Street (2631) behind Sycamore Golf Driving Range. It can also be accessed by a paved path from Hawk Island County Park. From the parking lot on Clifton, a nice woodland trail has been converted into an eight foot wide swath of asphalt. Many large ash trees, killed by Emerald Ash Borer, have been cut down along the pathway but on the other side of the bridge over Sycamore Creek is a very nice beech-maple woods, a valuable remnant in this area. Scott Woods is still a fine destination for birding and for spring wildflowers in the city.

Williamstown Township Park

Behind the athletic fields and sledding hill at this park on W. Grand River Ave. east of Meridian Road are three loop trails totaling 2.3 miles. The trails circumnavigate grassy fields which are subject to periodic burning to keep an open prairie-type habitat. Grassland birds such as Eastern Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Clay-colored Sparrow have been found. Fence row vegetation adds to the attractiveness for wild life and there are also wooded overlooks of the Red Cedar River.

Further Afield

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute is a nature center, environmental education center, and biological field station located on 661 acres in Barry County south of Hastings. Seven nature trails totaling seven miles wind through a blend of diverse habitats. Over 130 bird species have been recorded. Most impressive is the diversity of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) and dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata).

Upcoming Events

September 7 –
Capital Area Audubon Society presents Central Michigan University Professor Daniel Patterson, Ph.D. in their first meeting of the fall on Thursday, September 7, 2017 at Fenner Nature Center, 2020 E. Mt. Hope at Aurelius Rd., Lansing, 48910. Professor Patterson’s topic will be “The Missouri River Journals of John James Audubon and His Hidden Conservation Ethic”. Social time begins at 7 pm with a brief meeting followed by the presentation at 7:30 pm. Non-members are cordially invited to attend. FREE.Presenter: Central Michigan University Professor Daniel Patterson, Ph.D.

7:00 pm at Fenner Nature Center

Fall Bird Walksbegin September 2 and will be offered each Saturday at 9:00 am. Meet in the parking lot of Fenner Nature Center. Walks will be led by Bob Kingsbury.

News

CAAS dues payments can now be made online. Simply go to the Membership page and follow the instructions. The online payments are made through PayPal. You may also use the traditional method of printing and mailing the membership form with your payment or bringing the form with your payment to a meeting. You may also pick up a membership form from our membership coordinator
Ed Merz (edmerz7@yahoo.com or 517-230-7527) at a meeting if you prefer.

Photographer Fai Chan has kindly given us permission to publish his photographs on our website. You can view some of his fabulous photos on the Photos page. In addition, some of his photos are featured in the slide show at the top of our home page. Many thanks to Fai for giving us permission to do this.